Two Rochester sisters plead guilty to sex trafficking charges

Two Rochester sisters admitted Wednesday to recruiting two minors, a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old, for commercial sex acts.

Two Rochester sisters admitted Wednesday to recruiting two minors, a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old, for commercial sex acts.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Western New York, 27-year-old Jerese Blue and 23-year-old Chellsie Blue pleaded guilty before the U.S. District Court for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. The charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of $250,000.

The sisters allegedly conspired to recruit the two victims, knowing they were both under the age of 18. Specifically, they say the sisters paid for and posted ads for the two minors on Backpage.com, advertising the victims as "escorts." Officials say the sisters also drove the victims to meet with customers and engage in commercial sex acts.

Law enforcement officials say Rochester Police began investigating the whereabouts of a 14-year-old female runaway back in April 2012. They say when the girl was found, she claimed she and another 17-year-old female had been introduced to prostitution by the Blue sisters and had sexual relationships with multiple customers over a four day period of that month. Officials say the Blue sisters kept most of the money earned through the illegal activity.